v8-About

As a recovering overachiever who has spent most of my career in fast-paced tech companies building products and teams, I lived my life chasing external validation, convincing myself that true happiness would accompany the next accomplishment.

The harder I pushed, the more I began to feel less "me", pretending to be someone I wasn't. Outside, I looked successful, but inside, I was deeply dissatisfied and knew I didn't belong. The ladder I was climbing was leaning against the wrong wall.

Turning inward, I began to question the scaffolding of my identity that I had built over decades. With guidance and coaching, I gradually began seeing and understanding my beliefs - and their effects - more clearly. Every moment of insight brought more freedom, clarity, and connection with the "real" me.

From this newfound awareness, I rediscovered an innate ability we all have but too easily give away: the power to choose what we give meaning to. Paraphrasing Marcus Aurelius, the quality of our life depends on the quality of our thoughts.

These shifts have been so powerful for me that I've dedicated myself to a path of helping others clarify their thinking and live more consciously. I believe that when leaders welcome and express their fully authentic selves, they experience and radiate more love, meaning, and joy - and give others permission to do the same.

Values

Curiosity, Adventure, Service, Integrity, Love, Playfulness

Experience

Son
Brother
Husband
Puppy Dad
He/him/his

Certified Executive Leadership Coach
Engineering Project Manager
Certified Meditation Guide
Community Builder
Life Design Geek

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt
World-Record Skydiving Coach
Amateur Close-Up Magician

I'm fascinated by human potential and development.

What most people know about me

Service professional for 12+ years: cloud tech consulting, next-gen product development, and education technology
Built & developed teams of project managers, engineers, and consultants who have gone on to work for Apple and Google
Won multiple awards for exceptional customer service & high performance in the face of adversity
Voted best project lead in my consulting org for my dedication to mentoring and developing others
Born and raised in Hong Kong before moving to the US at age 16
Communicate in English, Mandarin Chinese, American Sign Language, and whiteboard sketches
BA in Economics, Entrepreneurship, and Organizational Behavior from Brown University
Professional Certificate in Strategy, Leadership, and Project Management from Stanford University
Evening & Weekend MBA Candidate at the Berkeley Haas School of Business
Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) from the Coaches Training Institute
Accredited by the International Coach Federation (ICF ACC)
Certified Stanford Advanced Project Manager (SAPM) and Certified Scrum Master (CSM)
Certified Microsoft Systems Engineer (MCSE) and Citrix Certified Integration Architect (CCIA)
Always reading on leadership, culture, behavioral psychology, neuroscience, mindfulness, and personal development

What I don't want you to know about me

The root of my greatest fear is letting down the people I love
In chasing what I thought meant success, I've pretended to be someone I wasn't
I've been put on a performance improvement plan
Burned out multiple times, leading to fainting in the middle of a friend's dinner party and (separately) getting pneumonia
Had bad acne as a teenager, and a mild stutter my whole life - I know what it's like to crave acceptance
Lost loved ones to suicide, eating disorders, and cancer

But what I'm really proud of is

Calling my mom every week
Rebuilding my relationship with my brother
With my partner, nurturing a family that is healthy, loving, and mutually supportive
Cultivating genuinely meaningful relationships with people I call friends, colleagues, mentors, and clients
The incredible work my clients are up to in the world and how I get to contribute to their success and wellbeing
I LOVE what I do and I'm learning to build a sustainable life centered around family, service, adventure, and fun
Deep down, I'm happy with who I am, warts and all, and excited for how I'm growing

To learn more, see my LinkedIn profile.

The big vision

I'm envisioning a future where an ecosystem of sustainable business, technology, authentic leadership, equitable education, diverse collaboration, and spiritual development are harmoniously integrated to cultivate the next generation of impact-driven leaders. A future where a deeper understanding of what it means to be human is supported and nourished by organizations.

I care most about helping people welcome and express the fullness of their humanity so they can live connected and loving lives filled with meaning, awe, and freedom.

I'm tremendously honored to work with the clients I do - each is an inspiration and a gift.

Tidbits

I've been a magician since I was 7.
As a performing close-up magician, I find tremendous joy in helping people get momentarily reacquainted with their sense of childlike wonder and awe. I've performed for kid's birthday parties, university deans, veterans, Krispy Kreme chefs, and audiences of up to 300 people.

<-- Check out that bowl cut.

I come from a family of educators.
My grandfather worked for a university until he was 93 years old. My father recently turned 70 and is still teaching grad students around the world. My mom has helped thousands of students find careers after school. It runs in my blood - here I am as a Rotary camp leadership facilitator for high school students.

I'm a lifelong student of martial arts.
After 3 years of Krav Maga, I dipped my toe into a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class and immediately connected with its principles of experimentation, adaptation, integration, and community. 6 years later and going strong, I'm currently a purple belt under Romulo Melo in San Francisco and now train regularly at Guardian Gym in Oakland, where every adult membership supports one local youth to train for free.

Drop in at an open mat or come find me coaching the youth class on Saturday mornings.

I've leapt out of airplanes over 600 times.
One of my greatest teachers, skydiving has opened up profound experiences and meaningful relationships beyond words. Contrary to most people's assumptions, dancing with gravity is one of the most peaceful and meditative activities in my life where I'm fully present and in flow. Where the mind quiets and time slows down. I earned my Accelerated Freefall (AFF) License in 2011, became a certified USPA skydiving coach a few years later, and went on to set 3 world records with the best group of humans one could ask for. (video)

I've participated in Burning Man 7 times.
You can usually find me handing out pour-over coffee at sunset as part of a theme camp we started in 2013. One of my big takeaways over the years has been embracing the beauty and freedom in imperfection. I am forever grateful to have met my now-wife out there dancing in the dust.

)'(

At the end of this life, I want to look back on memories of all the wonderful people I've had the honor and pleasure of serving, knowing that our time together changed their lives for the better in some way.

That's what inspires me the most.

~